HC Deb 16 December 1977 vol 941 cc524-5W
Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the proposed fuel fabrication plant at Dounreay will be commissioned; and what its annual throughput will be.

Mr. Eadie

The construction of a fuel fabrication plant at Dounreay is under consideration by the Atomic Energy Authority, but no decisions have yet been taken.

Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the Atomic Energy Authority will commence transportation of plutonium nitrate from Dounreay to Windscale; how frequent the shipments will be; what mode of transport will be used; and why it is necessary to commence such shipments before the commissioning of the fuel fabrication plant.

Mr. Eadie

Under its programme on the fast reactor and its fuel cycle, the Atomic Energy Authority plans some shipments of plutonium nitrate from Dounreay to Windscale for fabrication into fuel elements. The start of shipments would be determined by the time scale for completing modifications to the existing reprocessing plant at Dounreay and its commissioning. The authority is considering the best method of transport in consultation with the Departments concerned. In the interests of security of such shipments during transit it would not be right to give further details of movements of this material.